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Falling Short?

Monday, Nov. 19, 2007 4:10 AM

"Books? What are books?" Weena asked the Traveller.

H.G. Wells might have been writing about today's society and a study from the National Endowment for the Arts that shows Americans are reading less literature, including younger readers. Apparently, not even Harry Potter can budge them from a future of couch potatohood.

Pakistan's General Pervez Musharraf rebuffed U.S. requests to end the state of emergency that has suspended democratic rule in that country, stating that emergency rule will remain in place until the country's security situation has improved.

Former prime minister Benazir Bhutto has said she will not participate in elections unless emergency rule is ended.

Perhaps the most disturbing development is that Pakistan will not allow U.S. inspectors to ascertain the safety of Pakistan's nuclear arsenal.

An embarrassing appearance by 'Santa Claus' at a mall in Texas. Santa was supposed to rappel or climb down the outside of the mall ... but the event ended abruptly when Santa's beard got stuck in his climbing gear.

Firefighters were called in, and 'Santa' had to doff his hat and fake beard in order to be freed from the climbing rig, then climb down a ladder to reach the ground.